Harper's smirk faltered, quickly replaced by a facade of innocence. "Aubrey, don’t blame Hudson. I insisted on coming to see your mom. I’ve always wanted to apologize for what my parents did. I hope you can forgive me."
"Never!" I shouted, losing all semblance of control. "The only way you could ever repay us is if your parents drop dead to make up for my father’s life! That’s the only way you’ll deserve forgiveness!" In a surge of rage, I grabbed her hair, yanking her down toward me.
This car—my father had left it to me—and she dared to sit in it? Hudson reacted instantly, grabbing my wrist and twisting it painfully until I released my grip. He shoved me to the ground, the lunch box tumbling from my hands, its contents spilling out like my shattered composure. My already burned arm scraped against the rough pavement, tearing the skin open and drawing fresh blood.
It was clear. Hudson had chosen his side. He stood defiantly between me and Harper, glaring with a mixture of anger and protectiveness. "Aubrey, are you out of your mind? What do your family’s issues have to do with Harper? Why can’t you stop being so unreasonable?"
He pulled Harper into his arms, framing me as the villain in this twisted narrative. Fury surged through me, fueling my glare at them both. "If it wasn’t for her shallow obsession with luxury, my father would never have been framed by her parents. He wouldn’t have had to jump from that building to prove his innocence!" I spat, my voice raw with grief. "You were there, Hudson! You witnessed how horrifically he died! You swore you’d never forgive them!"
Hudson's expression twisted in irritation. "Do you plan on living in hatred forever? What kind of life is that? The dead are gone, Aubrey. Can’t you move on and find some peace?"
"Harper’s trying to make amends! Why are you being so ungrateful and cruel?"
"Ungrateful?" I choked, incredulous. "You think my father’s death was his fault? That he was weak?"
The realization struck me like a freight train. I had never truly known this man. The one I had spent five years loving was now a stranger, and a profound emptiness settled in my chest, as if something within me had finally shattered.